(Image for indicative purposes only)

STOP! Before going ahead with your booking, READ FULLY before booking your tickets.

Book your timed entry slot for your full party. The event will run after the usual museum opening time and seasonal passes are not accepted for this event.

Meet the Holly King. The Thirlings Hall is ready for the mid-winter feast. It is decorated with evergreens and the Yule log is on the fire. On the shortest day of the year, the Holly King must battle the Oak King to see who will rule in the coming months. As he prepares to fight, the Holly king would like to invite you to the Thirlings Hall, to celebrate mid-winter the Anglo-Saxon way. Join our storytellers from ACLE as they tell tales from winters long ago.

Suitable for children 5 to 12. Children will receive a gift from the Holly King.

There are four timeslots available for this event:

3:00pm arrival - event duration 1.5hrs

4:00pm arrival - event duration 1.5hrs

5:00pm arrival - event duration 1.5hrs

6pm arrival - event duration 1.5hrs

This event is most suitable for children aged 5 - 12 and their families. Younger and older children are welcome to attend, however there will be some mild peril in the storytelling.

Covid-19: We strongly advise that people follow the Government guidance at all times. We thank you for your co-operation: stay safe. We ask that people wear a facecovering when inside any building unless exempt. This means inside the museum building and inside the Thirlings Hall in the village. We also suggest that you complete a lateral flow test on the day of your visit.

Avian Flu: All visitors must disinfect their shoes by passing over the mats provided. No dogs, including assistance dogs will be allowed. We're sorry. We also need the names, addresses and contact numbers for all visitors recorded for Defra.

Woodsmoke: There will be an authentic, open, wood-burning hearth lit inside the Thirlings Hall and a smoky atmosphere is unavoidable altough every effort is made by the experienced team to keep this to a minimum. Please bear this in mind.

Craft activities: Natural resources including ivy will be used. Ivy is known in rare cases to cause an adverse skin reaction in some people (same allergen as in carrots). Please let us know if you believe you will be affected. Adult supervision is needed for the children's crafting, and one activity includes the use of a hot-glue gun and this part must be done by adults only.

The event takes place in the museum building, where craft activities will be available and in the Anglo-Saxon Village where, inside our beautiful Thirlings Mead Hall, we will listen to some legendary storytelling with a warm drink!

You will need to wear appropriate footwear and outdoor clothing for the lantern lit walk down through the farm to Thirling's Mead Hall. The route will be lit by lanterns however please bring a torch.

ANIMAL WELFARE INFORMATION:

• You must NOT feed animals any food you have brought in (donated fruit and vegetables are checked by the farm team and must be left at reception).
• You must NOT enter the animal enclosures.
• You MUST follow safety instructions given by our staff or official volunteers.
• We reserve the right to insist that you leave the site immediately and restrict your access to Jarrow Hall.
• Our animals can give nips, bites or head-butts if petted. Please be respectful.
• Dogs must be kept under control on a lead at all times.
• Do not feed our ponies.

You do not need to print your confirmation, just show it on your phone to our Visitor Services team on arrival.